One of the milestones that many couples look forward to is perhaps having their own children and establish a family unit. And the unspoken truth is that all couples who want children hope to conceive naturally.
According to a 2019 survey released by I Love Children (ILC)—after surveying 1,000 respondents about fertility health—77 per cent of couples said they wanted to have children within three years of getting married.
Roadblocks in Conceiving Naturally
However, as much as some couples have waited it out in trying to conceive naturally, they face many roadblocks in getting the pregnancy that they want. It can be due to factors such as age, medical conditions, timing and frequency of sexual intercourse to lifestyle factors such as stress and weight.
According to HealthXChange, about 15 per cent of couples in Singapore are unable to conceive within 12 months of trying for a baby. However, the problem does not extend to just women but also in men—or sometimes in both partners. Here's the breakdown of the statistics for infertility in these 15 per cent of couples:
- Female infertility - 39 per cent (a woman is considered infertile if she is unable to conceive after 12 months of trying)
- Male infertility - 20 per cent
- Infertility in both partners - 26 per cent
The advice from many doctors at fertility clinics in Singapore is that couples should spend twelve months trying to conceive naturally (or 6 months for women aged 35 and older) before going for fertility treatments. However, women over 40 may want to consult a doctor earlier in the process (after three months of unsuccessful trying) to rule out any underlying causes that would prevent natural conception.
Treatment Options - Glimmer of Hope for Couples
One such fertility treatment option is through In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), an assisted reproductive technique (ART) that is often a couple's last glimmer of hope. While there are other treatments such as Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) that are said to be less expensive and invasive than IVF, IVF still has considerably higher success rates than IUI. The success rate for IVF is age-dependent and generally, the pregnancy rate for IVF is up to over 40 per cent for the younger age group. However, it falls to 15 per cent once the woman reaches 40 years.
IVF involves retrieving eggs from a woman's ovaries and fertilised by sperm in a lab where they develop into embryos. A doctor subsequently places the embryos into your uterus. While it may sound like a complex process, it is a generally safe procedure with minimal risks.
And good news, as of 1 January 2020 the cap on the number of IVF cycles has been removed and the age limit of 45 has also been lifted. With this, more women can go through IVF to conceive a baby (only available for married couples in Singapore).
However, as all couples are unique, do speak further with a fertility specialist who would be able to best advise on which approach might be the best for you and your partner.
If you are thinking of exploring the possible IVF treatment options in Singapore and in a dilemma of where to go to get assessed, here is a compiled list of the top 10 IVF clinics in Singapore to look at.
Top 10 IVF Clinics in Singapore
1. National University Hospital, Women's Centre
The dedicated Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility department at the hospital performs approximately 600 IVF cycles per year. The highly experienced team at National University Hospital goes through a rigorous program of pre-screening and counselling with patients who are embarking on the IVF procedure. Apart from fertility treatment, there are also specialists dedicated to the care of young adolescents as well as postmenopausal women.
Pricing: $10,000 to $15,000 per cycle (enquire for fees or schedule a consultation)
- Senior Consultant S$144.45 (S$108.07)
- Consultant S$123.05 (S$99.51)
- Associate Consultant/Senior Registrar/Registrar S$107.00 (S$89.88)
Website: Click here
To book an appointment: Call (65) 6772 2002 or email appointment@nuhs.edu.sg
2. Thomson Fertility Centre
Perfect for couples aiming to conceive naturally, the Thomson Fertility Centre starts with a holistic approach to fertility treatments and aims to make the daunting IVF costs more manageable. Apart from offering IVF treatments, the centre also includes support services such as alternative therapies and counselling for fertility treatment.
Pricing: $13,000 to $19,000 per cycle (enquire for fees or schedule a consultation).
- They have a $7,999 (incl. 7% GST) package as well, you can view more information here.
- Initial consultation fee: $160.50 (inc GST)
Website: Click here
To book an appointment: Call 6252 7766 or email tfc@thomsonmedical.com
3. Virtus Fertility Centre
Virtus Health has helped more than 50,000 couples achieve their dream of a family through IVF treatment, and now their expertise is available in Singapore. Outfitted with the most up-to-date equipment in Southeast Asia, Virtus Fertility Centre offers IVF treatment which includes a Basic Fertility Assessment, Oocyte Retrieval, Embryo Transfer, and Intrauterine Insemination.
Pricing:
- Couples Fertility Assessment - $299
- Oocyte (Egg) Retrieval - $8,800* - $9,500**
- Embryo Transfer - $4,000 - $5,300**
- Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) - $880
Click here to find out more about the costs as well as MediSave rebates applicable.
Website: Click here
To book an appointment: Call 6460 4555 for general enquires. To request an appointment, click here.
4. Centre for Assisted Reproduction Pte Ltd
Located at the Novena Specialist Centre, the doctors at the Centre for Assisted Reproduction Pte Ltd (CARE) provide a wide range of fertility treatments. The team at the clinic creates tailored treatment plans for each patient including male and female fertility consultations, embryo transfer, and in-vitro fertilization surgical treatments.
Pricing: Treatment costs vary with each individual. Enquire for fees or schedule a consultation.
Website: Click here
To book an appointment: Call 6659 6638 or email info@careivf.com
5. Michele Lee Women & Fertility Clinic
An accredited fertility IVF specialist, Dr. Michele Lee worked for over a decade in a government structured hospital before opening her own private practices starting with the Thomson Women’s Clinic in 2008, followed by her own clinics at Mount Alvernia Medical Centre and Lucky Plaza where she offers an investigation of treatable subfertility and ovulation tracking.
She has a special interest in areas such as infertility investigations and treatment, gynaecological surgery like colposcopy for management of cervical pre-invasive conditions and laparoscopic surgery for ovarian cysts, fibroids, and removal of uterus.
“Dr. Michele Lee Sook Ling took my care during the delivery of my son back in 2014. Made me feel so comfortable that I forgot my pain. Remarkable experience.” — Disha Rohtagi.
Pricing: S$13,500 (includes one cycle of IVF procedure (own egg - own sperm) along with injections and pre-screening tests.) Prices vary from person to person, do enquire for more accurate information.
Website: Click here
To book an appointment: Call 6354 3003 or email fertility3003@gmail.com
6. International Urology, Fertility & Gynaecology Centre
The International Urology, Fertility & Gynaecology Centre is run by Senior Consultant Obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr. Julianah Abu and urologist Dr. Michael Wong, two highly esteemed figures for infertility treatments. Both doctors work together with couples so that both parties can be assessed for infertility simultaneously starting with a fertility specialist consultation, and then moving on to treatments such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection or intrauterine insemination.
Other infertility treatment and services include In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Laparoscopy Surgery, Menopause Management and Women's Health Services.
Pricing: S$19,000 (includes one cycle of IVF procedure (own egg - own sperm) along with injections and pre-screening tests.) Prices vary from person to person, do enquire for more accurate information.
Website: Click here
To book an appointment: Call 6838 1212 or email the following for a detailed consultation and fertility assessment:
email@drmichaelwong.com / nurse@drmichaelwong.com / contact@drjulianah.com / nurse@drjulianah.com
7. Women Fertility & Fetal Centre - Dr. Ann Tan
One of the few obstetricians and gynaecologists who are trained and accredited in both fetal medicine and reproductive medicine, Dr. Ann Tan has been in practice for over the past two decades. She is also an accredited fertility & IVF practitioner by the Singapore Ministry of Health, and currently serving as the Medical Director of Virtus Fertility Centre.
Providing a warm, supportive environment, the centre offers other main women's health services including endometriosis, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, emsella, female health screening and more.
Pricing: $12,000 to $20,000 per cycle — vary from person to person. Kindly enquire using the below contact details.
Website: Click here
To book an appointment: Call 6734 8188, Whatsapp 8318 9757 (Strictly for Appointment Booking), or email mail@dranntan.com.
8. Health & Fertility Centre for Women
Spearheaded by resident obstetrician and gynecologist Dr Kelly Loi, the Medical Director of Health & Fertility Centre for Women and Mount Elizabeth Hospital Fertility Centre, their services are tailored to provide every patient with the best possible care in a safe and comfortable environment.
Their Ministry of Health-certified IVF clinic offers diagnostic and treatment programs including the following:
- Fertility investigations
- Infertility treatments
- Menopause management
- Gynaecological treatments
- Cervical cancer screening
- Laparoscopic surgery
- Prenatal and postnatal care
Pricing: Vary from person to person. Kindly enquire for fees or schedule a consultation.
Website: Click here
To book an appointment: Call 6235 5066 or email info@healthfertility.com.sg
9. SMG Women's Health
With a massive network of doctors, SMG Women's Health has 11 clinics situated across the heartlands and a flagship clinic in Mount Elizabeth Novena. Apart from fertility services, other services include gynaecology, Breast Wellness & Cancer Care, menopause among others.
Apart from its main branch in Paragon Medical, it also has clinics in Bishan, Gleneagles Medical Center, Jurong East, and Punggol, among others.
Pricing: $13,000 to $15,000, vary from person to person. Enquire more for prices and consultation.
Website: Click here
To book an appointment: Various locations, click here for more details or email contact@smgwomenshealth.sg for enquiries.
10. Raffles Fertility Centre
Look to a dedicated team of fertility specialists, embryologists, and fertility nurses from Raffles Fertility Centre that's renowned for its ability to diagnose, treat, and support couples with fertility issues.
Accredited by Australia’s Reproductive Technology Accreditation (RTAC), it is also the first hospital in Asia that offers the Evie Slow Release Insemination (SRI) treatment in Singapore.
Pricing: S$15,000 to S$20,000 (Estimated costs per IVF cycle, inclusive of fertility medications)
- Raffles Fertility Assessment for Couples - $396.10 (incl. of GST)
Website: Click here
To book an appointment: Call (65) 6311 1250 or email fertility@rafflesmedical.com
For parents hoping to conceive, we hope you have found this list of top 10 IVF Clinics in Singapore useful. Don't lose hope, for there are still options possible with the help of experts. For Singaporeans, there are funding and subsidies available to offset certain costs. For more information, you may visit here.
Lead image source: iStock
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